Housewifery Part 2

Our loyal reader, Sara, sent me the list below. Sara has a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) friend, Susan, whose husband asked "What do you do all day?" Rather than fly off the handle, Susan began compiling a list of everything that needs to be done in their household. She surveyed the kids and the husband so the list would be as comprehensive as possible. The result is the following SAHM job description. I think these duties apply to most middle class American families. Some are done by the working spouse, some by helpful children, but most fall on the home-making spouse. (I have deleted Susan's category called "Paid Work" and edited the "Volunteer Projects" to make the list more general.)

Finances – checking credit card receipts to bills, checking EOBs to medical bills, paying bills, making deposits at the bank, balancing the checkbooks, filing, making sure fun $ is paid out

Laundry – collecting, washing, drying, folding, putting away, minor mending, cycling in/out clothes of different sizes and/or seasons, ironing, hanging up

Dishes – washing dishes, drying dishes (mostly passive), washing pots & pans, putting away

Cooking – preparing lunch & feeding it to the kids, cleaning up after it, preparing dinner, setting the table, putting away leftovers, rinsing out dishes, clearing the table and the highchair.

Lawn Care – mowing the grass, edging the yard, pulling weeds, trimming the bushes/branches, taking yard waste to street on Mondays, mulching leaves/shoveling snow when appropriate, taking care of the garden

Shopping – keeping the refrigerator and pantry stocked with food, planning ahead for meals, purchasing and putting away household necessities (toiletries, cleaning supplies, lightbulbs, etc.), purchasing additional clothing when necessary, staying stocked with diapers/wipes

Cleaning – dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing (toilet/bath/sinks/counters), changing sheets & making beds, picking up toys & books, re-organizing, detail cleaning, taking out trash (to garage & to street), emptying recycling bins

Auto Maintenance – fueling up, arranging oil changes & other maintenance, washing exterior, cleaning & vacuuming interior

Child Care – playing, teaching, refereeing, disciplining, comforting, reading to, putting down for naps, exercising, feeding snacks to, changing diapers, bathing, dressing, arranging playdates, taking to doctor/dentist/immunization appts, patching up boo-boos, cutting hair, trimming finger/toenails

Correspondence/Gifts – postcards, birth announcements, phone call follow-ups (business & pleasure), sending out photos or news to family when necessary, taking phone messages and passing them on, ensuring we have gifts for necessary occasions (bdays, xmas, baby, weddings, etc.)

Coordinating – keeping both adults (and sometimes the kids, too) aware of current schedule for the day/week, figuring out transportation for all parties involved, arranging babysitters where needed

Holiday Extras – additional baking, decorating, correspondence, events

Extra Personal Projects – Family Calendar, Family Photos, Family Dinners/Birthday Dinners, Recording Projects

Volunteer Projects – Church, School, Neighborhood

Here are the two conclusions I made after reading Susan's uncannily thorough accounting of the responsibilities of my life:

1. My life is sort of a drag.

2. Yardsaling makes it more fun.

Thank you, Sara and Susan, for your insight.